First, Sanju Samson was moved from his pet opening slot in T20Is, and then eventually he was axed from the playing XI. Fans, and even cricket experts find it hard to understand, as to what is the team management and coach Gautam Gambhir up to? Shubman Gill has been brought into the T20I setup, and hasn’t been all that great.
Uthappa wonders why no Sanju Samson?
Jitesh Sharma comes in as Sanju Samson’s replacement, who bats in the middle/lower order, primarily as a finisher. After Team India’s loss in the 2nd T20I vs South Africa in Mullanpur, these questions have become even more prominent. Gautam Gambhir’s ex-KKR mate, Robin Uthappa has asked, as to what wrong Sanju Samson has done?
Speaking on Star Sports, Uthappa said, “I beg the question: what did the partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson do so grossly wrong that they had to be replaced? I understand Surya in the pre-series conference where he said Shubman has actually been in the T20 squad before Sanju got his opportunity. But when Sanju did get his opportunity, he got three hundreds.
“He was the first guy among the youngsters here to get hundreds in T20 cricket. It was after that when Abhishek got it, and after that when Tilak actually got it. So he perhaps even inspired the guys and challenged them, because at that point, they were figuring out who was going to be the next opener for India in T20 cricket.”
He further added, that Sanju needs more opportunities at the top. “So you have a proven opener, who’s averaging just below Abhishek Sharma at this point, and you decided to move him to the middle order and then slowly leave him out. What wrong has he done? is my question. He deserves to have that opportunity,” he added.
Shubman Gill not quite there in T20Is
Uthappa also openly spoke about Shubman Gill in T20Is, which in his eyes is not working at the moment. “It’s not working for Shubman at this point, because I also think he’s trying different things. I think he’s trying initially to go toe-to-toe at the same pace that Abhishek is going — that is not how he bats.
“That is not how he’s been successful in T20 cricket. How he has been successful is by taking that time, those first 10 balls, absorbing the pressure, getting in, and then once he reaches 15–20 balls, I don’t think there is a batter like Shubman Gill until he gets himself out. That’s the kind of batter he is. And I think that’s what works for him in T20 cricket,” Uthappa said.
